Improved rowlock



to prevent it from being stolen.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. NOROROSS, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED ROWLOCK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,975, dated July 25, 1865.

To all lwhom it 'may concern.'

Beit known that I, JOSEPH W. NoRoRosS, ofMiddletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful- Improvement in ltowlocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figurel represents an insideA elevation of my invention when attached to the gunwale of a boat. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, the line xx, Fig. 1, indicating the plane of section. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 4 is an elevation, and Fig. 5 atransverse section, of a modification thereof. Fig. 6 isa transverse section of the rowlock detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is threefold. First, to construct a rowlock which will operate without or with but little noise, and that the oar may be temporarily left in the same without danger of unshipping, thereby giving an opportunity to the person rowing to relieve himself by wiping the sweat from his brow, or in some otherway; second, to make therowlock so that the oar might swingparallel to the boat or trail 5 third,to arrangeit so that the same can be readily unshipped and taken home These objects are obtained by hin gin g the rowlock upon one of its horns, or upon a fulcrum outside the middle of its horns, so that the same will swing clear of the edge ofthe gunwale and allow the oar to trail 5 further,by making the horns of the rowlock of such aform or shape as to meet the motion of the oar, whereby it is prevented from unshipping when temporarily left in the same 5 and, furthermore, the wearing of the oaris con siderably reduced or entirely avoided, and the rowlock operates without or with but little noise; finally, by combining the rowlock with a bracket which is fastened to the gunwale by a hook-catch or other equivalentdevice, so that the same can be readily taken oft`;` or instead of this the rowlock may be provided with a rim or liange, which catches under a hook and is furnished with an open slot, so that the same can be readily shipped or unshipped.

A represents a gunwale of a boat, from which rises astanchion, B, thatforms the fulcrnm for the rowlock O, said rowlock being hinged to the stanchion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3; or instead of the stanchion a simple pin orstud, B', may serve as the fulcrum ofthe rowlock, as shownin Figs.4and 5. Said stanchion or pin rises from the gunwale, butitis obvious that the same object would be gained by providing the rowlock with a pin made to tit into a socket in the gunwale, or in a bracket secured to the gunwale, althoughI use, by preference, the devices shown in the drawings, hecause thereby I am enabled to secure the rowlockwithoutweakeningthe gunwale. Thefulcrum of the rowlock is thereby placed outside the center of its horns, and said rowlock is arranged so that it swings clear of the edge of the gunwale, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5, and that the oar is free to trail or to turn to a position parallel with the keel of the boat either inside or outside. Furthermore, my rowlock is made to t the shank of the oar, so that the saine Works without or with but very little noise, and the Wearing of the oar occasioned by its tofandfro motion in the rowlock is avoided or greatly reduced. The bottom otl the rowlock is inclined to correspond to the outwardly-inclined position of the oar, as shown in Fig. 6,whereby the oar is prevented from being injured by the corner ofthe rowlock.

Ordinary rowlocks which turn on fulcrums in the middle of theirhorns must be made Wider than the shank of the oar to allow the same to trail, and in rowing the oar moves constantly back and forth, making a disagreeable noise and causing much wear, particularly when the shank of the oar is Wet, and when the oar is left in the rowlock it immediately unships.

lf desired, a recess may be made in the horns of either the stationary or revolving rowlock to receive a wooden lining, which will prevent the wear ofthe metal upon the oar.

The stanchion B is secured to a bracket, D, which catches at its outer edge under a flanged plate, E, secured to the outside or top of the gunwale and protected by the planking, and said bracket is provided With a flange, a, on its inner edge, that projects down and catches over a staple, b, 'inserted in the gunwale. A hook, c, secured tothe ange a by means of a pivot, d, can be made to catch into the staple and to lock the bracket firmly to the gunwalc.

Forthehook and staplea buttonor any other suitable fastening may be substitutedwhich Willprodueethesameorasiinilaretteet. When the boat is on a dockor near the shore the stanehion, together with the rowlock, can be readily removed and carried home to prevent it from being stolen.

When therowlock swivels on a pin, as shown on Figs. 4L and 5, it may be furnished with a iange, e, that has an open slot,j', and catches under a hook, g, secured in the gunwale. It' the rowlock is turneil so that the open slotfis opposite to said hook, it can be removed. It' desired, however, the plate from which the fulerum-pin rises, or which may form the socket of the fulcrnin-pin, might be arranged with a hook and staple o1' any other suitable fastening, so that thesalne can be readily removed Whenever it may be desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure A by Letters Patent, is-

1. Placing the fulcrurn on which the rowlock swivels outside the center of its horns and above the gunwale, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. rlhe hook c and staple d, in combination with the flanged plate E and with the bracket supporting thc stanchion or fulcrum of the rowlock, or any other equivalent fastening, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

3. The flange e, with theopen slotf, in combination with the rowlock (J, constructed and operatingV substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH W. NORGROSS.

lVitnesses:

W. HAUFF, WM. DEAN OVERELL. 

